November 24, 2014

Hola familia qué Onda? jaja

 

      That's slang for what's up, I have been worrying about you guys, drive safely and take car of yourselves!!!!! But yeah this week was a good hot week full of rain... its now the rainy season, its super hot and then... BOOM YOUR DRENCHED! Its part of living next to the ocean I think... ITs honestly quite an uncomfortable way to live... we are always outside because we are just looking for people all the time. 

     But yeah... asi es la vida, with Jonatan and Alejandra, well somethings happened and we are now not sure if they are getting married... so pray for them. and We have a few other families we are working for this month of December, but this Sunday... not a single person went to church!!! And well my mind is soooo fried, I haven't been as tired as I am now... we were teaching this one guy named Estevan, and I repeated myself twice and realized that I fell asleep while talking to him.... weirdest thing ever. Its been a lot like that all week so emotionally... I now think I know how pregnant women feel... always hungry and so tired you don't know what your thinking or how to act... hahah Its like ET when the alien is drinking and the kid gets drunk.. I think me and Hailey we are connected... This week we had one day were we got up at 6:30 and the rest were 5:30 or mas early, one day we got up at 3...

     We have been traveling doing paper work for my comp so he can become legal haha and then we have been traveling well everywhere. Im keeping in order the other elders because they're great but they are like doing... very little work. So I have been being a bit of a slave driver... Its actually really not fun. I've learned I like more just kind of keeping to myself and not getting on people. And on top of everything.. we are trying to baptize and help all of our converts. I think I will either die from being tired or maybe I'm learning how to not need sleep! jaja

     As for Austin... I miss that kid. As for having a 4runner... I forgot you got a new car... how weird. 

     But yeah, Things are flying by I don't think president will let me extend. so I'm a bit sad but that's okay, I heard that they just aren't letting people extend due to all the missionaries coming out. Um... que más? I cant really think of a lot that's happening. This week was a blur, I'm super tired and honestly I just need to sleep, I am a go all day every day, I think president is doing this just so I don't like go super lazy or stop working..

     But yeah, Hailey showed me a picture she is looking really big but its creepy how its just in the BELLY, it looks like tipo alien jaja but bueno, one day Ill see the baby and maybe it wont be as alienish as it appears :) 

 

I really have no more time but I hope you guys are all good, just know that I'm thinking about you and hope that you are staying safe!! 

 

PS MOM! SEND ME SOME CHRISTMAS STORIES!!!!!! ONE FOR EACH SUNDAY, IM GOING TO DO ADVENT WITH ELDER RAWLINS :) DO IT NOW BEFORE YOU FORGET!!!! and well send other Christmasy stories and cool things you can think of... enjoy thanksgiving... maybe I will kill a chicken and like eat it in remembrance of the States. 

 

Besitos.  Mitch

 

November 17, 2014

     Hey, I have no time, we spent all morning helping an investigator get married. They are going to get baptized in December... its sooo awesome... I love the mission here. I'm super tired, we just got more elders in the district so now I have more calls to make at night. :/ I need sleep I haven't been sleeping at all, but we have been finding family's and well its worth the pain. So Yeah still alive, slowly dying but I'm good, and well yeah I really am sorry I couldn't write more, I love when you guys write alot, I miss you guys a bunch.

                                                                                              I love you, Elder Woods

 

                                                                                           Old pictures:

                                                                       and a big river in Lujan...

                 

November 10, 2014

DONT COVER THE AIR CONDITIONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Send them... send them to meeeee!!!!

     So the summer is here and my shirts are turning more yellow and I'm remembering how much skin cancer is in my near future! Seriously, the humidity here during the summer is like... its like... swimming, in your sweat, the sweat of other people and the dirty sweat of the earth. We entered a house that had this little bity air conditioner... and I like almost died of relief. It was glorious, just another blessing that really we take for granted. pero bueno asi es. 

     This week has been fun I continue in the same position here in Gonzáles Catán  but now the only difference is that I have a SON!!!!!!! I'm an argentine father!!! His name is Elder Rawlins he's from Virginia. He's a nice elder and well I've been working him like a DAWG haha it reminds me of when I got here. He's just super tired and well luckily he's patient, but I'm happy. New elders always bring a special spirit ready to work and ready to make miracles happen. So that has been cool to see.

     As far as furniture... hahahahaha que me importa, I have lived without furniture for like ever, I was given a little chair that is torn and beat to death and its been the most furniture besides a mattress I have seen... people here use fold up chairs and like boxes to sit on. So Maybe I will appreciate it more when I get home.

    That's to bad that marah and FHS couldn't go home with the cup, but just gotta practice harder, next year! By then I will teach here how to play like an argentine champion jaja,

 As for my birthday... the members fed me cake... and more cake... and more cake... the night I threw up everything... but it was just as good the second time. :)

     It was sad that elder Smith was leaving and he was really nervous to go, he ended up being put with an intense Columbian,, so he is a little bit anxious to see how it all works out. 

     As for my everything else, we ate ice cream and contacted houses looking for people to baptize and bring into the Light. It was good... I feel the same. I think I'm actually more little too so I don't feel any form or sense of growth jaja

     Here is something I have seen, and after hearing from others who have experienced similar things... missions in the states.... like they are GREAT, but the amount of growth I have had as a man and a worker and everything, endurance and well just every phase of emotion I have learned it here. In the states you learn doctrine and maybe... how to be professional. Outside of the states you just see and.. bueno I cant explain it, but IT IS NOT THE SAME. haha

     Today we are going to keep getting elder Rawlins ready for everything but wow we have a few family's with whom we are working and wow, its just incredible the changes in people, pray for us and that we will be able to find people, that's what we are doing now... but let me just say the Lord has not closed the heavens. He loves us and is showering his blessings on those that want to follow him, and are obeying his requests. The miracles and blessings of these restored doctrines are indescribable and endless. I know the Church is true, I know it at 21 years and I will know it when I am in the presence of the Lord doing the same thing we are doing here. Also I have been talking with the Presidente and I'm pretty sure if he lets me I'm going to extend my mission. but we will see what happens.

     I love you all. Look for me a spanish wife in Texas jaja jk give Hailey a hug and tell me how her baby Mitchellcita is doing :)

 

Much love from the bottom of the world!

Elder Woods

 

November 3, 2014

This is what I wrote Hailey... I'm pressed for time so I'm putting everything together!

 

¨OYE (HEY) HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR YOU!!!!!!!! 

 

     Wow you is old haha Sorry for not wishing you happy birthday before. I saw a little girl dressed as a witch and I thought of you... ( Hailey's birthday is on Halloween)  They don't celebrate Halloween here... it was the first time I have seen like anything... I feel the same... my birthday is the day right before a transfer so we aren't really celebrating anything. I have no time ever, I have no time to think of my birth... because were making people be born again through baptisms haha

     We are working hard now to find lots of people. The other day we got a text `in ingles` and it had the address of a family and said they were awesome... we went right away, they live super far also.. and the first time they weren't there. We went another day and well... they let us in and like wow super spiritual lesson. We taught about the restoration and the book of Mormon. The problem is that they aren't married... (por favor) I marry everyone here. MAWWAGE IS WHYYY WEEE AWE GAVVEWED HEWWWEE TODAYYY.... ( Princess Bride)  haha so this next Monday we convinced them to go with us and get married... :) we taught the plan of salvation and we talked about the temple and eternal families, IT was awesome...

     Also this whole week has been raining. so its been a STRUGGLE because when you are looking for people sometimes we spend full days clapping... my comp is really really shy and afraid of speaking Spanish. So I CLAP doors all days and talk all day... and I'm always tired. Now I have learned when its raining its a little harder... this week we are talking like mini hurricanes.. so I feel like It was more of a take my son to the mountain to sacrifice him kind of moment.. like just showing your sacrifice and that you are willing to work. Last night in the last hour of the day in the dark and rain.. we contacted a house... we found a married family of 5... we taught of How the authority of God has been restored... sooo powerful.. So we are finding people and the Lord knows of our needs... if we pray, make plans and put ourselves on the field and work... that's how we move mountains and see miracles... and I know that without a doubt. I realized I have 6 months left... and that is nothing! It is going to FLY so I will hit the ground running and sprint to the end.

     Don't worry about gifts.. I am receiving all that I really need. Pray for me, that's all I need. My comp is likely leaving and the president told me he wants me to either be zone leader or train. So It sounds like anything can happen, so just pray that everything works out! Please and we will keep praying for you all!!! I'm Thankful for you guys and that we are sooooooo blessed, that is all I need. 

Love you!!!    Stay blessed :)

Elder Woods¨

October 27, 2014

   

So This week has been a good one, we have been fighting to keep Satan from destroying our happiness hahah... we had been passing almost everyday with this family that just got baptized... I understand the importance of having a testimony. I'm not just putting any person in the waters of baptism... this family is awesome their names are Norma, Juan and Elias... they are a testimony builder of how the Lord puts us were we need to be... When I arrived to my area with my comp.. well I still don't know what they were doing but they were not working with anyone, they had no investigators and I was super freaked out like wow... what do we do... so My first night there we left the apartment... and I was getting on my comp for well... not having/working with people and I said bueno elder we are going to just start contacting houses. and he was freaking out and I said were do you want to go and he told me I don't know. I don't know what to do and was about to cry... he is one to cry often... but to each his own. whatever helps you cope with stress. he was like there is a house right there and he was like but I don't know Elder I don't know what to do... So I said bueno elder that house right there is were we start. We don't have anything else to do.. that first house was Norma Juan and Elias... I felt like Nephi... I knew not before hand where to go but the spirit guided us. and we had a miracle happen. This weekend was something special for me...

     Now also at the end of this weekend we had nothing.. and I was stressed that we weren't finding new people to teach, we prayed and yesterday we found 7 new investigators... the Lord is guiding us as we work but the key is just working being worthy and putting ourselves on the field so that the Lord can help us accomplish the rest. I haven't seen meet the Mormons.. I haven't seen like... anything, I think this is how it feels to be Amish... jaja.

 

    But this week has been a great week as far as being happy. I have little time to talk. I know that we are here on earth for a reason and that is to be obedient to God and the reward is an eternal life of happiness. I know that we will continue progressing after this life and that we can accomplish all of this with the family unit the Lord has blessed us with. 

     Tell everyone that I love them and to pray for us and that we can continue being instruments in the Lords hands! :) 

 

                                                              Un Besito, Elder Woods

 

October 20, 2014

    Sorry I have no time I spent a lot of time writing some of my converts and friends since I never write them.... PERDONÁME!!!!!!! I will be better.
     This week was a great week, we had the family that is going to get baptised this weekend go to church and now they are ready!!!! We also have another girl we have been teaching who is going to get baptised the following week and after that we are going to have a wedding and another baptism.. I am excited so hopefully we can endure everything well...
     I don't know if I ever want to leave the house to go camping ever again... I feel like this has been like a 2 year campout and as far as hunting goes.... maybe some day... I think my neighbors are hunting a lot I always hear them practicing or something... hahah jk 
     Also another miracle that happened The other day a guy stopped us in the street and told us he went to Paraguay and liked our church there... and said he loves God and wants to get married.. in his words

¨That is my house right there... if you guys want to come to my house and teach my family and invite us to your church we will go, I have no problem with that.. if you want I was like... bueno sounds good to me. Then I asked did you get baptized in Paraguay? ¨No, I never reached that point but I would love to be baptized with my family¨  soo yeah we visited him found out they're not married, talked about the temple and bueno he is going to go this sunday!!!! :) his name is Rosalino... super cool guy. We are going to get him married her in the near future!!! I swear I marry everyone.. its getting ridiculous.

 

     Other then that the week has just been working, praying, and running back and forth. I'm going to sleep today... estoy tan cansado.. wow I'm tired sorry... 

 

     Elder Smith is good... I'm starting to understand his Spanish now haha and he is starting to come out of the cocoon.

     I love the miracles we are seeing,,, I'm super hot now, its getting really hot and humid... but I'm just sweating faith and love haha I love the restored truths we get to share with everyone! I'm all good hope you guys are too....

                                                           LOS AMO, Que Estén bien y felices.

                                                                                 Elder Woods

                                                                           Giant grub thing... monster

October 13, 2014

Wow that picture of Marah.... kind of weird looking... I don't like it. She doesn't need to date. haha

 

    So this week we have a bit of time to write so I will see what I can put down... As for mission work its been a little depressing we have had a lot of people's agency (ability to decide) destroying everything... really when you are teaching people to change their lives obviously you need to have patience, but honestly, its so frustrating sometimes... still haven't achieved perfect patience.. Because here in Argentina people will use any excuse, ANY excuse to not do something.. like fuaw I stubbed my toe, bueno God will understand why I didnt keep the commandment of going to church, I know he commanded it and that if I keep it I'm showing him that I love him and want the blessings... but he understands how bad my toe is.

    This really happens, like they are sooo close to understanding.. but they don't. So we keep teaching and teaching... sometimes I feel like my mission is teaching me more then these people... maybe that's what I needed, who knows. I remember for the longest time I felt sooo bad for not baptising people. I felt like I had failed the Lord and I think this week I realized that really the Lord is using us in ways that we dont see, maybe I won't baptise but I will plant seeds in the hearts of men, until it explodes out of their chest and throws them into the waters of baptism... thank you for keeping up with the blog! Now all my followers will know of me. haha

    It was weird today Brother Gladden wrote me... I thought he hated me... I feel bad for what I put that poor man through... I need to like bake him a cake when I get back home. haha I need to repent with many people, I am going to show more love when I return, and I won't even complain about your green bean caserole... I'll just wait till your not looking and put it in a napkin and store it in my pocket... like I have done so many times here in this great country. ;)

     Our area is full of drama, everyone is screaming and everyone is crying and everyone is kissing on the corners and subsequently everyone is about to have babies... the emotion here is like just a little tooo high. I enjoy my time alone in the shower... oh soo much. We are teaching a woman about the church and she like loves the church, wants to be baptised, and is reading the book of mormon... likes it. agrees with it. But believes that she just needs the bible. We talked FOREVER about how we need the Lords word continually and if he loves us we will continue to receive his guidance throughout all the years.   If people really believe in God you think they would rely a little less on there own understanding!!! I want to climb the wall and preach humility to these people like a prophet of old! 

     As for fotos... I have the camera.. its got fotos... but none of these computer places have drives for putting pin drives.... its ridiculous... So bueno we will see in the future how we handle this. There are many things in the world that you don't think of until you experience... 

    I will give you two examples... here in Argentina there really isn't sidewalks that conform with any regulation.... its really like hiking a flat mountain... of trash and rocks and whatever else there is. This week I have stubbed my toe... like cien veces(100 times) My toes hurt SO bad.

Secondly we use colectivos a lot, its a bus... and well this week I saw what happens when we are sitting next to a little girl who throws up around other women who have week stomachs and well lets just say.. domino effect. (Yo He VISTO UNAS COSAS) 

 

     I love the mission haha but dang I miss serving in the states!!!! Also I counted in our apartment... I counted 20 Giant spiders on our ceiling... I fed one a cockroach. IT was crazy. Now we are going to go play soccer with the kids of the ward I'm excited. I love what I am learning and I think the lord taught me this week the importance of HOPE I invite everyone to study what is hope and put it in your life, you will see how happy you are! 

I love you all, just remember if you love the problems and are thankful for what they teach us, you will love life! 

Todo mi amor y cariño! Les Mando todo a ustedes! Los Amo!!!

Elder Woods 

                                                       Giant bottles of pee on the street

Playing with the cucarachas...